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New Life For Melbourne’s ‘Second’ Symphony

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is not the only orchestra in Australia’s second-largest city, but it very nearly was. Orchestra Victoria, a smaller ensemble which plays in the pit for local ballet and opera companies, and has struggled mightily in recent years, was at risk of folding or being swallowed up by the MSO when its supporters decided to try a new direction in order to save the ensemble. The result is something almost unheard of in the professional music world: an orchestra which performs free concerts, backed by local civic and charitable organizations, and which brings music to its audience, rather than expecting the audience to come to them.

How America Is Missing The Point

As new technology continues to make the sharing of information ever simpler and ever faster, many countries around the world are actively seeking out the best ways to make use of the new tools, and the newly available information. But not in the U.S.: in fact, America is doing everything it can to stem the flow of information, putting in place dozens of new regulations designed to protect “intellectual property.” It’s a typically American idea to think that we can engage the world on our terms alone, bullying and regulating it into submission, says Thomas Goetz, and one that’s been tried before. The trouble is, it doesn’t work.

A Book With No Demographic

Mark Haddon is best known as a children’s author, so it’s no surprise that he would choose to write his first novel with a teenager as the central character. To hear Haddon tell it, in fact, he wasn’t entirely sure, at first, whether he was writing for adults at all. Regardless, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has become a major hit with adults and teens alike, and a movie deal is already in the works.

The Uncertain Future of Flamenco

Flamenco is many different things to different people. ‘Classic’ flamenco, “created by marginalised gypsies in rural Andalusia two or more centuries ago, and still sung in southern Spain by old-timers,” is only peripherally related to the jazzy, pop-influenced dance craze which is even now enjoying a comeback all across Europe. Most of the youngsters dancing the night away to the latter are probably completely unaware of the former, and some purists are concerned that the gypsy history of the original flamenco may soon be lost.

The Crumbling Wall Of China

Thanks to centuries of erosion, decades of tourism, and countless incidents of vandalism, the Great Wall of China is barely a third of its original impressive self. “It is the clearest indication yet that booming China is failing to use its new wealth to conserve what ought to be a source of national pride. Renovations that have been carried out have ended with clumsy exploitation, such as at Badaling, where tourists can ride toboggans and cable cars, eat at a KFC outlet and have their picture taken with camels and life-size cutouts of Mao Zedong.” The Badaling section of the wall alone attracts more than 10 million visitors per year.

Would Carrot Top Qualify As Ironic?

The long-standing lament of the British expatriate living in America is that Americans simply do not understand or appreciate irony in their humor. But with the decidedly ironic Britcom, The Office, having just walked away with two Golden Globe awards, is America finally starting to get the joke? The truth, says Jonathan Duffy, is that American comedy is full of irony, and has been for some time. What has taken Americans so long to catch on to British humor is not the ironic content, but the lack of traditional setups and punch lines.

Listen! Do You Smell Something?

Nearly everyone has heard stories of how humans with one damaged sense (e.g. hearing or sight) often experience heightened sensitivity in other areas. Now, a new study suggests that the theory of sensory trade-offs may hold true for the evolution of species as well. For instance, primates (including humans) have a highly developed visual sense, but the ability to see all the colors of the rainbow may have come at the expense of, say, a superior sense of smell.

Manhattan, You Can Stop That Snickering Anytime Now

“In an effort to revitalize Staten Island and make it a cultural destination for all New Yorkers, the city has invested $8 million to develop and expand Staten Island’s Snug Harbor Cultural Center (SHCC), an 83-acre complex that mixes art, music, and theatre… The infusion of cash — half of the money has already been spent to restore the venerable, 750-seat Music Hall — marks a major shift in the center’s mission, vision, and purpose.”